Jeffries says he's 'hopeful' a government shutdown can be avoided [View all]

Source: ABC News

September 28, 2025, 11:28 AM


House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Sunday he is "hopeful" a government shutdown can be avoided as Congress lurches toward its Tuesday deadline to reach a spending agreement.

Jeffries' comments come after President Donald Trump canceled a meeting last week with Jeffries and Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer to hammer out a deal before saying Saturday he'd meet with the Democrats and Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson on Monday.

"Our view going into the meeting is that we want to find bipartisan common ground, to find a spending agreement that avoids a government shutdown and actually meets the needs of the American people in terms of their health, their safety, and their economic well-being," Jeffries told "This Week" co-anchor Martha Raddatz.

One of the main points of contention between Democrats and Republicans has been the impending expiration of some of the Affordable Care Act's tax credits, which Democrats are fighting to extend.

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